• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI) has “fully settled and paid all of its due, demandable, and processed monetary obligations to members of its departments, event teams/organizers, and office personnel, who provided services during the MassKara Festival 2025.”
The letter, signed by BGFI corporate secretary, Atty. Hannah Tañoso, was addressed to Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus “Kalaw” Puentevella and the Sangguniang Panlungsod members, dated Aug. 24, and incorporated in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city government and the foundation on the conduct of this year’s MassKara Festival.
The MOA was ratified by the SP during its session yesterday afternoon, Aug. 26.
“BGFI…will undertake to submit to the local government unit of Bacolod (the) audited financial report within three months from the end of the festival period,” Tañoso added.
The BGFI will also waive to the city government the intellectual property rights to edited pictures and videos, MassKara Festival Facebook account and all other social media accounts and pages created with regard the celebration, she added.
The letter was issued after some councilors last week raised concerns, including the alleged nonpayment of salaries of some personnel in last year’s MassKara, and decided to defer the supposed ratification of the MOA pending clarification.
The BGFI, or Gugma Foundation, was again tapped by the city government to handle this year’s MassKara Festival, from Oct. 1-25, with the official launching set next week.
Per the MOA signed Aug. 19 by Mayor Greg Gasataya and BGFI president and festival director Rodney Mitz Ascalon, source of funds for the festival shall be taken from sponsors secured by the Foundation, although the city may also allot funds, subject to liquidation and other applicable laws.
Sixty percent of the net profits, or after deduction of fees and taxes imposed on the festival, shall go to the Foundation, with the remaining revenue going to the city, the MOA added.
The LGU will assist in securing the necessary permits, traffic management, road closures, and security measures, while the BGFI will handle festival planning, sponsor participation, promotions, staffing, vendor rentals, ticket sales, and other festival operations, the city said.
Ascalon, meanwhile, thanked Gasataya and the SP members for their support and continued partnership with BGFI.
He said the Foundation will continue pursuing its aspirations of creating meaningful and inclusive activities, anchored on this year’s theme, “Share the Smile, Celebrate Gugma”, while fulfilling its mission of making MassKara a #MassKaraForAll celebration. | CGC
